3/7 Change of Command

Jon's Battalion (3/7) recently underwent a Change of Command. For those of you who aren't as familiar with USMC tradition this is a ceremony where the current battalion commander (Lt Col Wolfe) passes all rights, responsibilities & power to the new battalion commander, (Lt Col Tipton) who is stepping in to take his place. Infantry Battalion Commanders usually serve for the duration of one deployment. Enough time to train the marines, take them to war and bring them home. (pictured below: left-Lt Col Wolfe & right-Lt Col Tipton)You can see Jon standing with his back facing us, during this ceremony he was still holding the billet of India Company Commander. Facing us are 70 of his 250 India Company Marines.Below you can see that Jon is saluting the new Battalion Commander (Lt Col Tipton) as a sign of respect to his on coming authority. The red flag at his left is called a Guide-on, there is one for each company in a Battalion. You can see the numbers 3/7 in the lower left and the letter I in the lower right. So proud to see Jon leading his company, before the new battalion commander.